Reality: Journal Log No. 1
Reality: Journal Log No. 1
Reality: Journal Log No. 1
1:
REALITY
The controversy surrounding evolution touches on our most central beliefs about ourselves and
the world. Evolutionary theories have been used to answer questions about the origins of the
universe, life, and man. These may be referred to as cosmological evolution, biological evolution,
and human evolution. One’s opinion concerning one of these areas does not dictate what one
believes concerning others.
In a common traditional view, Adam and Eve were created de novo—they were created by God as
fully formed humans (Homo sapiens), roughly 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. God made them quickly
and completely as fully formed humans with no biological ancestors. In this traditional de novo
view, Adam and Eve are “sole progenitors”: they were the first two humans, and they alone gave
rise to all other humans. The Genesis account is taken to be a record of real events similar to the
way a journalist would record them today.
However, some features in the biblical text suggest that there are other layers of meaning that this
traditional view does not account for. Genesis 4 refers to other people (in cities, Cain’s wife) who
do not seem to be descended from Adam and Eve. And some elements of Genesis 2-3 indicate that
at least on some level, the text is describing Adam and Eve as archetypal figures—statements
about all of us.
When multiple interpretations of Scripture are possible, the church can benefit from considering
what God has revealed in the natural world, because a proper interpretation of Scripture will not
conflict with what we find there. Many scientist are persuaded by the scientific evidence that Homo
sapiens evolved, arising about 200,000 years ago and sharing common ancestors with all other life
on Earth. Furthermore, it increasingly appears that the genetic diversity among humans today
could not have come from just two Homosapiens individuals, but a population of thousands.
Creationism and evolution have two very different viewpoints of how the earth and human beings
began. Creationism is based on the belief that the Bible is a credible source, which gives the story
of Creation. Creationists believe that the earth is young, and that organisms are fixed, every
organism that we see today is the same organism that God created a few thousands of years ago.
Creationists say that those who believe in evolution are immoral. Yet, as a Christian, my life is
centered on faith in God. I believe that God created life, but I believe God did it in a way that uses
evolution. I believe that God created everything in six days, but that each day lasted millions of
years, with different species and life forms evolving throughout that era. I believe that God
structured the world so that there could be evolution. I think that species have to adapt to
changing environments, and God made each species of organisms so that it could survive each
change that takes place. I do not necessarily believe that human beings are the final product, I
think that we will change over the decades evolving into higher species. Here is a need for
cooperation between the two worlds though since there are Christians in science, but it takes one
to look at both sides to decide on what one’s own theory is on the beginning of life and human
evolution.
Keep in mind, if you go back a few thousand years, we all share the same family. As Christians, we
know that our origins are important. But we also know that what we inherit is more than our DNA.
As Christians we should be thinking more broadly about ancestry and specifically about our
inheritance. What is it that we inherit—biologically, culturally, physically, and societally.When we
look at the question through these different lenses, we come upon a wealth of different
understandings of things like original sin, justice, and race. We enter into a grand dialogue in
theology that’s far richer than any DNA test would be.
RESPONSE
It doesn’t mean, first, that there is any necessary or logical or an incompatibility between science
and religion. We shouldn’t declare them to be incompatible purely on the basis of what they are,
which some people are tempted to do. Certainly, science works on the basis of reason and
evidence, while religion often appeals to faith (although reason and evidence are by no means
absent). But that just means they are different, not that they are incompatible. The reason why
science and religion are actually incompatible is that, in the real world, they reach incompatible
conclusions. It’s worth noting that this incompatibility is perfectly evident to any fair-minded
person who cares to look. Different religions make very different claims, but they typically end up
saying things like “God made the universe in six days” or “Jesus died and was resurrected” or
“Moses parted the red sea” or “dead souls are reincarnated in accordance with their karmic
burden.” And science says: none of that is true. So there you go, incompatibility. God should not
be made to stand in for scientific uncertainty.
In the end, it’s irrational to decide what’s true in your daily life using empirical evidence, but then
rely on wishful-thinking and ancient superstitions to judge the “truths” undergirding your faith.
This leads to a mind (no matter how scientifically renowned) at war with itself, producing the
cognitive dissonance that prompts accommodationist. If you decide to have good reasons for
holding any beliefs, then you must choose between faith and reason. And as facts become
increasingly important for the welfare of our species and our planet, people should see faith for
what it is: not a virtue but a defect. Religion can never be a purely personal matter; how you think
about the fundamental nature of reality necessarily impacts how you behave, and those behaviors
are going to affect other people. That’s why it’s important to get it right.
REFERENCES
Choice, E. (2017, October 29). Eve or Evolution? Retrieved August 24, 2020, from
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3059871
Reynolds, T. (2020, June 15). What does science tell us about Adam and Eve?: The Source: Washington
University in St. Louis. Retrieved August 24, 2020, from https://source.wustl.edu/2020/06/can-science-
prove-adam-eve-really-existed/
Rejection of evolution by religious groups. (2020, August 18). Retrieved August 24, 2020, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rejection_of_evolution_by_religious_groups
BioLogos. (2019, January 15). Were Adam and Eve historical figures? - Common-questions. Retrieved
August 24, 2020, from https://biologos.org/common-questions/were-adam-and-eve-historical-figures/
Catholic Answers. (2019, May 21). Adam, Eve, and Evolution. Retrieved August 24, 2020, from
https://www.catholic.com/tract/adam-eve-and-evolution